Shop For a Cause This Christmas With Ayala’s Designer Holiday Bazaar 2020 at Greenbelt

Ayala Malls is proving that the pandemic can’t dampen the spirits of Filipinos this Christmas. Through various activities, they chose to bring the gift of happiness to everyone. On the fashion front, the Designer Holiday Bazaar at Greenbelt returns this year. Curated by Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, Beatriz Zobel Jr. with daughter Paloma Urquijo Zobel; the bazaar will once again showcase Filipino talent and ingenuity by featuring 30 local designers with products ranging from woven apparel, handmade accessories, home decor, and other artisanal goods.

Launching this November 18, proceeds from the bazaar will be for a good cause. Twenty percent of the sales will be donated to partner charities such as Steps Scholarship Foundation and Ayala Foundation for APEC scholarships.

The designers for this year include: AC+632, Alegre By Techie Hagedorn, Amarie, Bum Bums, Beavaldes, Chocoloco, Chrysara Nest, El Chupapi Rolled Munchies, Feanne, Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation, Gustoko By Paula Figueras, Iraya Mangyan Art, J Makitalo, Jewelmer, Kanya, Kassa, Mabolo, Maison Lourdes, Majordomo Gourmet Food, Manggad, Matthew and Melka, Omo Furniture, Piopio, Riqueza Jewellery, Rurungan Collective, Soumak, T'nalak Home, Tan-Gan X Ha.Mu, Tanglaw Collection, The Bahay Kubo Workshop, What's Up, Brew?, Yvette's Collection, and One Of T.

This year, the focus has been on having the bazaar be experienced on multiple platforms, so that it could cater to a bigger market segment, and to help designers with sales.

“We are extremely grateful that the designers stood by us and are still willing to donate 20% of their sales to the foundations even after a tough year,” explain Bea Zobel Jr, and daughter Paloma Urquijo.

Beginnings

The Designer Holiday Bazaar (DHB) began seven years ago with a small handful of local designers who were all friends, and who wanted to raise funds for APEC scholarships. As the years progressed, more designers came forward, wanting to join the cause. Part of that group of friends include Milo Naval, Tes Pasola, Tony Gonzales, Karen Santos, and Maricris Floirendo Brias. 

Its history is rooted in giving, as told by Bea Zobel Jr. “While planning a culture hub for Lio, Palawan, which is now Kalye Artisano, some seven years ago, I was talking with my artist friends about starting an initiative to support local and raise money for our foundations,” she explains. We all decided we would showcase our products in one location for the holidays to promote buying local and for a good cause.”

The Pandemic

Many of the exhibitors work with artisans and craftsmen, and that includes indigenous groups that have been affected by the pandemic. What is heartwarming is how the designers have helped. 

“The effect has been pretty tremendous,” explains Bea, “but most of the designers were fast to offer aid as soon as the lockdown started,” she adds. Some of these examples include: How T’nalak home sent food and medical supplies to the T’Boli tribe in Lake Sebu; or how Manggad donated food for over three months to artisanal communities in Bohol and to indigenous groups in Palawan.

Paloma Urquijo, founder of PIOPIO, shares how they helped as well. “PIOPIO raised over 1M pesos to help children with distance learning and donated 20% of all their sales for five months directly to artisanal communities around the Philippines to help with food and health supplies.

This year, Paloma is taking a more active role in the bazaar, instead of just joining as an exhibitor as she has done in the past years. This is to help the bazaar transition to an omnichannel retail experience.

“What’s great about the Designer Holiday Bazaar is that it is all for a great cause and that cause is what brings us together for a greater purpose. It’s amazing to showcase with such great brands and designers and it opens up the opportunity for brands to collaborate,” she says.

The omni-channel experience

This year, the omni-channel experience they designed allowed for customers to shop with ease and convenience across different channels and platforms. From here you can choose between whether you’ll shop in the safety of your own home, through catalogues or the website, or you can also visit the safe, contactless showroom at Greenbelt 5 from December 8-23 so that you can browse the exhibit-like space. Or, you can also opt for a self-service checkout or assisted checkout with minimum contact or interaction.

Of course, the full shopping experience is purposeful and meaningful, too, so shopping at DHB allows you to support two great causes—supporting local, and supporting the charities.

“While designing our omni-channel interface, we decided to create a seamless unified experience throughout all touchpoints of the experience. While shopping the catalogue, you can scan the QR codes which will take you directly to that item on the website, and while shopping at the physical space, you can again scan QR codes to opt for self-service check out via our website,” explains Bea and Paloma.

“At the physical space, you may also opt for an assisted check out where you can browse the showroom with a print out item guide and hand it to the cashier to check out,” they add.

Making a difference

Apart from this, there has been great feedback on how the bazaar has helped its recipients—the STEPS Scholarship Foundation and the Ayala Foundation for the APEC Scholarships. 

“In the case of STEPS, the foundation has been able to sponsor underprivileged talented children who otherwise might not have the same opportunity to harness their talents and skills to prepare them to dance professionally for some of the most prestigious schools around the world,” explains Bea and Paloma.

In the case of APEC, they’ve been able to sponsor more than 22 children for their entire education, including college and high school.

A heart for giving

In the end, these Christmas activities really form part of the spirit of Ayala. “Staying true to the core values of Ayala, we want to promote supporting local family, tradition, and the gift of giving.”